Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1887-04-07
A.lber, Sidney lohnssom.

Inc equestrian Slatuo q beuoldi AlLelI
Sidney Johnston was unveiled al New Or
leans, yesterday, under the auspices Of the
Louisiana Division of the Army of Tennes-
see. Hon. Jefferson Davis waa called upon
at the corcluaion of the orators address and
said
knew Sidney Johnston, l believe, better
than knew any other man, perhaps, be-
cause his character was written So legibiy
that it was easy to comprehend it. we had
we went to the military academy, and from
there we went into the army. Johnston
stood eminent in the corps OF cadets; al
ways courteous, always ready for duty, al.
ways proficient. believe that If you will
60 among the cadets who were in the corps
with him, and ask who was the grandest
character they knew in the corps, the ans
Wer would be generally, if not universally,
albert Sidney Johnston. Thxt is my
opinion aud the opinion l have heard ex-
pressed by many among others, by the
man who was at the head Of his class
and who is one Of the greatest sayants
this country has produced We entered
the army together and wero in the same
branch of the service. We were together III
| remember now the time when l saw him
when deadly disease was spreadingamong
the men in camp. Sidney Johnston was
there himself, suffering yet calm and atten-
tive TO those who were suffering moro than
himself He showed no trepidalion-t was
not in his nature to do so. The man had
been as lion in battles, and when he stoop-
ed over a suffering comrade his eyes mois-
topci vrith ho q harbc yUaaEDaaG
Such was the nature of this mans heart.
Then. we served in the foreign war togeth-
er, and there Sidney Johnston was as calm
as ever saw him in camp. His decision
was as quick as rifle powder. He never
deserted a friend. He was knightly,
but not Grant. When he saw Texas
struggling for right he thought be-
longed to ali men-the right of selfgovern-
ment-he went to volunteer without re-
commentator, taking his place in the
ranks. AS time wore on his merit was dis
covered, and he was raised to rank and po-
stlon. When the war with Mexico began,
Johnston organized regiment, of which he
was colonel, and marched to the support of
Zachary Taylor. Afterwards he was on the
staff OF General Taylor. After the war with
Mexico he was appointed paymaster under
the administration of Frapkli Pierce,
Yankee, who never faltered in the main
tanning of States rights;a man who in the
Senate of the United States voted for every
one Of the resolutions of Calhoun, though
many Southern Senators did 80 reluctantly.
Thanks to New Hampshire for breeding
such man as Franklin Pierce.
Pierce appointed Johnston paymaster
and colonel of the Second cavalry,
a regiment which gave more distinguished
officers to both armies in the war between
the States than any other in the United
States army. Mr.. Buchanan, when Presi-
dent, sent to me to ask, Who do you think
ought to have command of the Utah expe-
dition p did not choose to select one only
from my army acquaintance, and l gave
him three names. He said, DO you and
Gen. Scott ever agree about anythingY l
said, 4 think So He replied, In this in
stance you have named the same three
men, They were Pursifer Smith, OF
Louisiana Albert Sidney Johnston, and
R. E. Lee. Johnston was selected.
HI commanded the expedition TO Utah, and
was made brigadicr general by brevet. SO
he had gone to the highest grade next to
the commander-in chief within short Pc
riod after this Mexican war. Previously to
that he had resigned from the army and lost
his position When the war between the
States commenced he sacrificed all he had
gained in the United States army and tray
eled across trackless desert TO offer his ser
vices to minority struggling for the right
On the field Of Shiloh he made but one mistake.
He had planned that BATTLE and sent me a tele-
gram which was lost) which described it just as
it was fought-the only battle in the worlds his
tory that was fought the general expected
| The mistake lie made was III allowing somebody
else to direct the order of march, so that the
nv did not get TO the field of battle az soon as
| they should have arrived there Thst one day
| lost enabled Buell. to approach Grant. Johnston
was one day later in striking the enemy, bat he
slruci, when he could, and the field was carried
| from point TO point. at ore position held by the
| enemy an obstinate resistance WAS offered, and
now give my own theory in which, perhaps,
| am justified by my intimate knowledge of The
man and of Whist he would do under The circum
stances When he saw the stubborn resistance
and rode forward to direct operations himself, re-
ceving then a fatal wound, fully believe that if
he had been told, you can keep your saddle ff-
! teen minutes and cOnsummsc this victory, hut If
you do, it is at The risk OF y0ut life, he would
have said, III Jake the Chances Thus it was he
remained in the saddle until it was too late 10
afford him any relief When he fell, one of the
mighty pillars that supported tho temple of the
Conlederacy and gave us reason to believe that
We would win our fight in the West went down.
loved him as brother hopored him as a man /;
| adored him as hero but, moro than all this,
felt the sore loss to just cause which was ntlict
ed when Johnston died."
MINUS